Chapter 33 - Mates
2291 Words
Chapter 33 - mates
Alex POV
present time -
I wake up breathing heavily. Dameon's arm is on my chest. I know I couldn't mind-link with Xavier when I'm right next to Dameon.
I have an overwhelming sense of guilt, although I don't know from which: being with Dameon or dreaming of Xavier?
Pretending to sleep was not going to help me. I’ll just end up thinking about the dream again. The whole thing was a memory, it was the day Xavier caught me sneaking out of the group home in the middle of the night, to mail out my application letter to NYU for a special short program. I didn't have any money for college, so I was counting on the scholarship. I didn't put too much stock on the scholarship, if I get in then well and good. If I didn't, well I was leaving anyway. I had saved up enough from my side hustle: selling contraband to other patients in the group home. Once I was twenty-one I was going to be on the first bus out of this town.
I shake the memory out of my head. It was too sinful to think about him while wrapped in Dameon's arms. I gingerly peeled his arm off my chest. He grumbled under his breath and turned to the other side to shift his weight. I quietly grabbed my phone from the nightstand and sneaked out of the room.
I walked to the kitchen, trying to remember the last part of my dream.
“Alex, you're in danger. Come find me now.”
Was this Xavier trying to reach me through this mind-link thing? Is this how werewolves communicate? He's saying that I'm in danger. What if he was as well? He hasn’t done the whole mind-link thingamajig for weeks now. Maybe something happened to him in this secret quest with Austin?
In the kitchen, I lean my elbows on the counter and close my eyes, trying the mind-link with Xavier. I had no idea what I was doing. I pictured Xavier's face and think his name, willing myself to call him in my mind. Nothing.
“Ok, back to good ol' human technology,” I mumble as I dial Austin's number on my phone.
I drum my fingers on the counter while listening to the ringing on the other line.
Austin picks up on the second ring. “Alex! finally.”
“Austin? What do you mean, 'finally?' Were you expecting my call?“
“Yeah, for about 3 days now.” Austin spoke in hushed tones, like he was somewhere where the sound bounced off if he spoke any louder.
"What do you mean, Austin? I'm only calling because I had this weird dream—in it, Xavier was asking me to look for him. Has anything happened to him?" My heart dropped and nerves took control.
Something happened to Xavier!
The kitchen door opened behind me. I didn't bother turning around, I knew it was Dameon. I paced to the other end of the kitchen with the phone still pressed to my ears.
Austin replies, "Alex, we're here in town. Xavier has been in the hospital for 3 days now. He's been unconscious since we arrived."
My eyes widen at the revelation. Dameon's mouth is open across the kitchen but he appears to have lost his voice. His face had guilt written all over it.
“I'm coming there right now.” I tell Austin then drop the all. I gaze at Dameon, and wag my phone at his face.
“How could you have not told me?”
“Lexie...”
“Don’t tell me its for my safety. How can he do anything if he's unconscious?" My voice trembles.
“I wanted to tell you. I just didn’t want you slipping back to your trauma. You just got over your stutter. We just...” He cut himself off when I cringed when he took a step forward.
“Dameon, You don’t need to keep me away from Xavier to save me from my trauma. Whatever happened between me and him—everything considered—he still means a lot to me. He's my oldest friend. He's seen me through a lot of things...” before i could finish, Dameon cuts in.
“He also beat you, Alex.” Dameon was seething.
“You don’t know all of it.” I whispered. I wasn’t ready to tell him all of it—why I left Xavier. What really happened in that house. What I think I am capable of.
“Please, I need to see him.” I look at Dameon pleadingly.
An hour later we were walking into the lobby of the hospital. I spot Max by the nurse's station chatting up a rather smitten nurse. I pulled my hoodie over my head as the sudden rush of cold air from the AC hit me.
Dameon notices and rubs his hand on my back. “Are you sure?” I nod.
We walk past Max who acknowledges Dameon. “Austin is with him. Logan is by the visitors' area. Just down that hall.”
We follow Max's instructions and find Logan sitting at the visitors' lounge. He was almost falling asleep, his Nintendo Switch was slipping off his fingers. Dameon loudly clears his throat. Logan wakes up startled, fumbling and almost dropping the game console, which he manages to set down on the chair beside him and quickly straightens himself up in one swift motion.
Dameon nods at Logan, who nods back. Two seconds later he was smiling at me weakly waving goodbye as he walks down the hall. “Mind-link? “ I ask Dameon.
“Yup. I told him to take the night off. He's been here for three days. Max too. I told Logan to make sure he takes Max with him before he sleeps with the lovely nurse at the reception." Dameon smirks.
I know he was just making light of the situation.
My knees started to feel weak when I spot Austin standing by the doorway to a room. Seeing Austin standing there reminded me of a life I once had. It felt so long ago, when its only been 6 months since I left.
“You look good,” Austin smiles. I couldn't help myself from leaning towards his chest and hugging him. I never properly thanked Austin for helping me out that night. Austin hugged back tightly. I felt Dameon tense behind us. I never come around to telling him how close Austin and I had become.
“Thank you Austin. For that night; for understanding why I needed to leave. And now for taking care of him." I say as I let go of my embrace.
"I'm sorry we never got to talk about it. But I knew it was for the best." He moved out of the doorway, and I see Xavier for the first time in half a year.
He was lying on the bed hooked up to a respirator, a heart rate monitor, an IV and god knows what other contraptions I don't know what for. He looks so helpless, so broken. It instantly broke my heart.
“What.. What happened?” I take a step back and bump into Austin. Austin places his hand on my shoulder.
“We went to an Elder Witch to find answers.”
“I know, he told me. You were out looking for answers.” I completely forgot that Dameon was in the room.
“What? Wait, what's an Elder Witch?” Dameon must've felt like an outsider looking in, it was painted all over his face.
“...and Lexie, you’ve been talking to him? Care to explain?”
Austin looked irritated at the interruption. He clearly wanted to continue to tell his story. He had his hand on my shoulder the entire time. He put himself between me and Dameon on purpose.
Before any of us could speak any further, Justin's head pops out from behind the doorway.
"What did I miss?”
Dameon was quick to remark. “Austin here, who has been so handsy all over Lexie since we arrived, is about to explain what the f**k is going on." He motions Justin to enter the room while Austin's hand recoils from my shoulder.
"Lexie is about to explain how the f**k she has been talking with Xavier when she only regained her speaking voice a few days ago." His dagger looks couldn't be more accusing.
I raise a finger and open my mouth, but Austin speaks first.
“You couldn’t speak?” Austin holds my arm in concern.
Justin butts in. “Yup, the stammer's been there since after the car crash when Dameon left your place." he casually walks between everybody, and sits on the couch on the other side of the hospital bed. "The doctors thought it must have been from past trauma. Her injuries had nothing to do with it."
"And you were wounded, too? Alex, I didn't know." Austin replied.
"How could you have?" Justin added.
“Xavier only only told me about how she was attacked by the men form the pub.” Austin continues.
“I didn’t want him to worry too much. You know Xavier. He'll blame himself for it.” I looked down, abashed.
“You told him that?” Justin asks me.
“Why not?” Austin asked back.
“Not the point guys, what’s wrong with him?" I point at Xavier.
“Elder Witch.” Austin answers me.
“From your quest?”Justin interjects.
“You found the answers?” I add.
“Yes, that’s why we're here.” Austin answers us both.
“But what about the mate thing?” I ask.
Justin interrupts. “So THAT’s why you could mind-link! But that means you can’t be Dameon’s mate.” Justin turns to Dameon. He was standing in the corner of the room, eyes darkening with every minute that he isn't part of the conversation.
“That’s not entirely true—” Austin cuts in.
“Why?” I ask.
“Elder Witch?” Justin asks no top.
“From the quest.” I answer for Austin.
“Exactly." Austin manages to say.
Justin and I looked at each other.
Exasperated, Justin asks, “Did you or didn't you find out something?"
“Yes! There's so much you need to know.” Austin looks relieved to finally say.
”What the f**k are you three on about?” Dameon finally roars from his corner.
“Xavier's quest.” Austin looks at Dameon like he hasn't been paying attention.
“The Elder b***h, what the f**k is an Elder b***h?” Dameon continues, still puzzled.
“Elder. Witch. Mythical folk but I’ve never met one.” Justin says helpfully.
“There are more freaks than werewolves?!" I cut in.
All three stop and look at me incredulously.
Justin breaks the ice. “You could have expected it was just us, honey.”
“There's much more to it! And we found the answer." Austin continues.
“So what did you find out?” Justin and I spoke at the same time.
“f*****g hell, there you all go again!“ Dameon grabs my arm, he was about to force me to face him, but Austin quickly step in between me and Dameon.
“You can't be serious.” He growled at Austin. “You're forgetting which territory you're in,” he bares his teeth at him. “Also, could you stop being so touchy-feely with my mate?”
“Mate? You're mistaken, sir.” Austin wags a finger at Dameon. “Xavier mentioned how you felt for Alex, but the fact remains that they can mind-link. And I'm guessing from your confused face now that you two cannot.“
“Nope. They can't.” Justin confirms Austin's suspicions. He steps between Dameon and Austin. He knew his Alpha can be a hothead and didn't want to see him at Austin's throat.
The awkward silence that followed allowed me to finally ask, "Mates? Xavier and Dameon both thought that I'm their mate?"
I still couldn't quite wrap my head around the 'Witches being real' part. So I focus on what I can understand; Involuntarily, I ask, "What are mates?
"Werewolves have one destined partner, it is a union blessed by the moon goddess Selene. Remember that goddess we were talking about during your werewolf research?" Justin was answers me. "Think imprint of Jacob in Twilight."
My eyes widen. "...but not in the weird CGI baby context like in the movie," I pick up from Justin. I cringe as I visualize the scene in the movie. I recall the rather hurried lecture I got from Justin. I understand now why he hurried it, he was hiding the fact that Dameon thought that I was his.
“Good girl. I knew you would remember. Damn smart, this one. No disrespect Alpha, but you need to catch up. You and him," he motions to the motionless Xavier on the bed, "—you both think Alex is your mate."
He continues, "There's one important detail you both are missing. We can't be entirely sure because Alex has lived her entire life as a human, we can't expect her to suddenly fully understand these things."
This seemed to cause Dameon and Austin to pause, which was all Justin needed for the conversation to cool down a bit.
“That's not entirely all there is to it...” Austin protests.
Justin cuts him, “Which, brings me to my second point. You two went on a mystical quest and apparently found an Elder Witch. A mythical race of people who apparently aren't so mythical. Here I thought the Elders in our packs were it—the Elders. So witches have Elders too?"
“Witches are real.” I whisper, more to myself than to anyone.
“And a lot more.” Austin adds.
“Thanks for the recount Justin, I got those. What I still couldn't get over is the fact that Alex and Xavier can mind-link... all this time." He turns to me.
"You were talking to him all those times you couldn't even talk to me." Hurt laced Dameon's eyes.
"I couldn't understand it myself, Dameon... I didn't mean to not say... I'm sorry." I whispered the apology, and focused on the tiles of the hospital room.
"I'm sorry to cut into all this drama, but we have bigger problems." Austin interrupts, "Alex, you're in grave danger." He puts his hand on my shoulder.
“What?” Dameon and Justin ask in unison.
“...from demons.“ Austin looks at me with worry.
“Demons are...”
“Yes they are very real, and they'll be here soon. I'm not just being ominous here, but Alex—they're coming for you.” Austin looks at me.
So... apparently, Demons were also real. And they're coming after me. What did I ever do to deserve all this attention?
- Writer
